Game apparatus



Sept. 12, 1933- H. P. GORMAN GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 10, 1950 2 SheetsSheet 1 2 w v R n 0 N1 w/J mi F B ATTO R N EY i I; t:

WITNESSES ZW m H. P. GORMAN GAME APPARATUS Sept. 12, 1933.

Filed Sept. 10, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR if? 607777402 BY WITNESSES ZZMQ/ ATTORNEY Patented Sept. .12, 1933 '1 i v {UNITE STATES ATENT oFFice;

Horace P. GormanpRye, N. Y.

Application September 10, 1930 r Serial No..481,059

8 Claims. (Cl. 273-429) This invention relates to games, and compre invention, while the claims define the actual hends a-game apparatus which is in the nature scopeofthe same. ofan improvement over my prior United States In the drawin 1 Letters Patent No. 1,657,388; r Figure 1 is a side view of the device illustrating In addition to accomplishing the same general the manner in which the same is used. objects attained by the prior patent above re- Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional plan view ferred to, the present invention aims'to improve taken approximately on the 'line 2--2 of Figure thereupon by simplifying the mode ofuse of the 1, illustratingthe normal position of the parts. device "so as to admit ofa more accurate posi- Figure 3 is asimilar view taken approximately 7 tioning of the club head with respect-to the ball on theline 3-3 of Figure 1, illustrating the set and the obtaining of a better direction of the retracted positionofthe device. shots, due to a follow-through of the swing, after Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view contact of the club head with the ball. showing the parts in normal position;

r The invention more specifically contemplates a Figure 5 is a similar view showing the parts game apparatus of the indicated character, in inset retracted position. whichiindependently manipulated means are pro- Figure 6 is a detail enlarged transverse secvided-for separately placing the club'supporting tional view taken approximately on the .line 6-6 element. under the desired tension and releasing of Figure 1. the same, which means are located in'suchv close Referring to the drawings by. characters of refproximityto each other and tothehand grip, erence; thedevice includes a handle composed asto permit of ,their manipulation by the digits ofa handgrip wand a shank 11 projecting forof. the samehand which holds thecdevice in wardly therefrom, and which shankispreferably position. a j s in the nature of a rod havingan upturned free As a.further feature, the invention aims to end '12 disposed at an acute angle to the shank provide a manually controlled device for sup- 11, so that ordinarily withthe free and disposed ,difierent retracted-set positions to Ivary the tenfree end 12 andincludes a cylindrical .bearingor porting-and swinging a club, to cause the same vertlcahthe shank is disposed at an inclination to strike and-projectaball over auplayingafield as illustratedin Figure 1 of the drawings; A

in which manually operable means? is'provided club support designated generally by the referforrsetting the cluh.;head'inza wide;;.range. of once character 13 is turnably mounted :on the sion 'of the spring Ewhichwhen subsequently rehub 14 which fits over the upper extremity of the leased swings the club =into contact with the free1end12 and'bears upon a collar lSunderlying ball. g y o 1 the lower end of the bearing. A washer Iden- 35 The invention furthermore comprehends in a gages the upper end of the bearing, and a-cotter device of :the indicated character, awturnably pin 17 extending through theupper extremityof mounted club support having opposedsprings of the free end 12 retains the washer and bearing relatively difierent tensions which function. to in placethereom 'Between its ends the bearing dispose the club support in a predetermined poor hub is provided'iwitha disk like flange 18 40 sition representing-the balance between saidophaving a substantially radially disposed perlph- .posedsprings whereby upon. retraction of the eral notch .19, from one side of which a guide clubv support against the action of one of the 'lug 20 projects. In practice, the club support will springs, the opposed; springact's as 'a yieldable include "a figure 21 representative of the particllimiting stop for checking theswing. at the time pants or. the same, and the hand portions 22 of. contact of. the :club head with the ball and will removably receive the handle 23 of the shank '45 directly thereafter to obtain the effect .of a fol- 24 whichcarries at its free end the club head 25.

low-through. A spring 26 is rnounted to surround the hub por- The invention further resides in the provision tion and is located between the flange 18 and the of a device of the character set forth which inw he 15,. w thth upper t a Chm-ed 'cludes few and simpl which may be into the shank ll-and the lower terminal fis enm5 p ns ly' p d n assembled and which gaging the flange is to normally turn the club functions effectually to attalntheend inview. and club support in thedlrection indicated by With the above recited and other objectsin the arrow in Figure 3 of the drawings. Stop. view; reference is had to the following descrippins 29 and 30 are provided respectivelyonthe 5 'tion and accompanying drawings, "in which there flange 18 and the free end 12 to provide a definite no is exhibited one example or embodiment-of the interengaging means forllimiting the-turning the stop pins 29 and 30 are disposed slightly out p of contact with each'other, as particularly shown in Figure 4.

In order to provide means for manuallyv effecting a retrograde movement of the club support against the action of the spring 26 to place said spring under various tensions, a rock shaft 35 is journaled in bearings 36 and 3'7 formedelon the handle shaft 11, and said rock shaft is provided with a manipulating crank 38 at the terminal which is disposed adjacent. the hand grip 10 and with a crank arm 39 at its opposite-terminal which normally engages within the notch 19 of the flange 18. .A coiled expansion spring 40 surrounds the rock shaft. 35 and is interposed between thebearing 36 and a collar ,41 adjacent the crank arm terminal 39, .while. one extremity 12 of the spring 40 engages the bearing .36 and the other extremity 43 engages the crank arm 39. Thespring 40functions in two capacities, namely, to normally eifect anaxial .sliding movement of the rock shaftlin thebearings 36 and 37 while serving toturn or rock thesaid shaft in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6, where the crank arm 39 engages the .wallofthe notch 19 whichis providedwith the projecting guide lugZO. =By virtue of this arrangement, pressure exerted upon the manipulating crank againstthe action of the spring 40 by one of the digits'of the hand which grasps the hand grip 10, will. cause the. crank arm 39 to engage the wall 45 of the notch to turn the club support against the action of .the. spring 26 to set the club and support in the desired retracted position for the shot to be made.' This also permits a. rocking action to beimparted to the club support to simulate the action of a golfer in addressing -.the 'ball A ar-.- ranged upon the tee B or directly restingupon the supporting surface C. In order to provide :manual means for release ing the club supporting. means when under the desired tensionedretracted position, a. trigger-,46 is provided whichis slidably mounted on the handle shank 11 between. the handgrip 10 and the bearing 3'7. The apertured'upperportion 47 'ofthetriggerreceives the rock shaft 35 and engages the offset manipulating crank portion.39. The trigger 46 is further provided with a guide pin and clubhave been retracted to. place they spring -'26.under'the desired tension,a rearward pull exerted on the trigger will withdraw the rock arm 39 from its engaged position with the wall 45 of the notch 19, therebypermitting the spring 26 to forcibly turn the club support 13 and swing the club into contact with the ball A. After the shot has been made, the turning tension of the spring 40 will rock the rock shaft 35 in the direction indicated 'by the arrow in Figure 6 to cause the rock arm to engage with the guide lug 20, and the expansive action of the spring 40 will slide the rock shaft and trigger 46 forwardly, re-positioning the rock arm 39 in the notch 19, for a subsequent operation of thedevice. It will be observed that the rod from which the handle shank 11 is constructed forms a curved rest portion 51 at the juncture of the free end 12 therewith, which in .many-instances will serve as a support for engageable stop means for gradually arresting the swing of the club so as to permit said club swing to follow through after actual contact with the ball, and only Whenthe clubsupport is retracted to the fullest extent will the force of the swing be.

sufiicient to. actually bring the stop pins 29 and 30 into engagement;

rom the foregoing, it will thus be seen that an improved device of the indicated character has been set forth, andwhile for. the purpose of illustration certain structural details are exhibited herein, it is to be clearly understood that no limitation is necessarily made thereto, but'that variations and modifications which properly fall within the scope of the claims may be employed in lieu thereof when desired.

.What is claimed is: -1. Ina game apparatus, meansfor supporting, retracting,,tensioning and releasing a club to strike and project a ball over a playing field, .in-' cluding a rotatably mounted club support, means for tensioning the same upon retraction, means for manually retracting the club support and for manually holding said club support in various retracted positions and an independent means for manually releasing said club support when it is manually held in retracted position by the manually operable retracting and holding means.

2. In a device of the character set forth, a handle including ahand grip and a shank, an upstanding terminal at the free end of the shank, a club support includinga notched portion turnably mounted on said terminal, a spring for normallyturning said support in one direction, a releasable element slidably and rockably carried by the handle and normally engaging the notched portionof the club support whereby to admit of manual retrograde turning thereof to place thespring under tension and a releasing trigger carried by the handle and engaged withsaid element. 48' which extends into a socket 49 formed in the 3. In a device of the character set forth, a handle including ahandgrip and a shank, an upstanding terminal at the free end of the shank,

a club support including a notched portion turnably mounted on said terminal, aspring for normally turning said support in one direction, a releasable element slidablyand rockably carried by the handle and normally engaging the notched portion of the club support whereby to admit" of manual retrograde turning thereof to place the spring under tension and a releasing trigger carried bythe handle and engaged with said element, said .element having a manipulating-portion which together with the trigger is disposed in close proximity to the handle grip whereby the device may be held in one hand and manipulated by the digits thereof. 1

springs of relatively different strength function-,

ing to dispose said club support in a predetermined position, manually operable means for adjusting and for manually holding the club support in different retracted set positions, whereby to vary-the tension of the stronger spring andan independent manually operable means for releasing said support when set. I

5. Ina game apparatus, a manually controlled device 'for supporting and swinging a club to cause the same to strike and project a ball over a playing field, said device including a handle,

a club support turnably carried thereby, opposed springs functioning to dispose said club support in a predetermined position, manually operable means for adjusting and for manually holding the clubsupport in different retracted set positions whereby to vary the tension of one of the springs and an independent manually operable means for releasing said support when set.

6. In a game apparatus, a manually controlled device for supporting and swinging a club'to cause the same to strike and project a ball over a playing field, said device including ahandle, a club support turnably carried thereby, opposed springs functioning to dispose said club support in a predetermined position, manually operable means for adjusting and for manually holding the club support in difierentretracted set positions whereby to vary the tension of one of the'springs and an independent manually operable means for releasing said support when set, said setting and releasing means having manipulating extremities located in close proximity to the handle whereby said extremities may be actuated by the digits of the hand which holds the handle.

7. In a device of the character set forth, a handle including a hand grip and a shank, an upstanding terminal at the free end of the shank, a club support including a notched portion turnablymounted on said terminal, a spring for normally turning said support in one direction,

an element slidably and rockably carried by the handle shank, a spring normally acting to slide and rock said element for engagement with the notched portion of the club support and independent means for successively rocking and sliding said element to place the first mentioned spring under tension and to release the same.

8. In a device of the character set forth, a handle including a hand grip and a shank, an upstanding terminal at the free end of the shank, a club support including a notched portion turnably mounted on said terminal, a spring for normally turning said support in one direction,'an

' element slidably and rockably carried by the spring under tension and to release the same, said means being disposed in close proximity to the hand grip whereby digits of the same hand which holds the device may be employed for manipulating the device.

HORACE P. GORMAN. 

